Heronbriar

basic description > Black-and-white bicolor cat with amber eyes and a fluffy tail

build > Slim and lithe with long but well-build legs and an angular face
fur description > Sleek and soft, with a fluffier tail
breeds > Moggy

height > 29 cm
weight > 8.5 lbs
voice > Sebastián Yatra
scent > Freshwater and lilies

scars > N/A
accessories > Brooch made of thyme sprigs, forget-me-nots, and a heron feather
banned traits > N/A

Positive Traits
positive >
    >> Benevolent > Their smile is genuine and their kind words are powerful. Heronbriar is a light that shines on many, always staying positive and being the nice cat that someone would need. One simply cannot help but feel uplifted by their bright spirits and gentle nature.
    >> Forgiving > Heronbriar is not one to hold grudges or stay upset for long. They believe everything happens for a reason, so there is never anything to hold onto, no matter how terrible it may be.
    >> Reliable > If something needs to be done, Heronbriar can do it. They are good at keeping up with their tasks and taking on more if need be, and they never shirks on their duties. In addition to this, anyone can trust Heronbriar to keep secrets and can count on them in their times of need.

neutral >
    >> Mellow > Heronbriar is well-known for keeping their cool and being an overall calm cat. Their temperament is the definition of relaxed, and even when they feel strong emotions, they can usually maintain the ability to remain calm on the outside.
    >> Formal > Formalities and respect are important to them. Heronbriar abides by keeping themselves in check and treating everyone with the proper respect that they deserve. They can have a bit of a hard time breaking away from formalities sometimes, though, and in turn, may end up a bit intimidating to strangers by how they treat others with such high regard.
    >> Protective > Rarely does Heronbriar get angry, but when it comes to their loved ones, family and friends alike, they will stop at nothing to ensure their safety and happiness. They are not overbearing in their protectiveness, wanting those close to them to still live their own lives, but they are ready to stand up for them at a moment’s notice. They put others before themselves, and their wellbeing means the world to Heronbriar.

negative >
    >> Gullible > Unfortunately, Heronbriar puts too much faith and trust in others. They believe in the best of everyone around them and try not to have negative thoughts about others or situations around them. Because of this, they are easy to manipulate and hurt.
    >> Meddlesome > Especially when it comes to their friends and family, Heronbriar has a bit of a problem butting into places they shouldn’t be. They always do it out of the goodness of their heart, simply wanting to help the other cat, but it can easily get annoying and could also go terribly wrong. They just cannot help but help others, even if they do not want it.
    >> Sensitive > Behind their smile, Heronbriar can be terribly emotional and easily influenced by said emotions. They take everything to heart, even things that are not meant for them, and they can react strongly to these feelings. While they would tell someone they’re fine, Heronbriar becomes significantly less motivated and even distant when they experience these negative emotions.

Parents
 parents >
    >> Pigeon > Mother > Long-furred silver she-cat with yellow eyes and a white underside > Played by Melontine > Alive
    >> Ganderslash > Parent > Brown pointed cat with blue eyes and a white face > Played by drakkeosaur > Alive

siblings >
    >> Cardinalsnap > Sister > Black tabby she-cat with dark points, white markings, and yellow eyes > Played by RubyRose364 > Alive
    >> Dovekit > Brother > Silver tabby tom with blue eyes and white undersides > Played by Winter5587 > Alive
    >> Goosepaw > Sibling > Light brown tabby cat with blue eyes and white markings > Played by Spacecat011 > Deceased

    >> Amelie > Half-Sister > Gray tabby cat with green eyes and a white chest > Played by Hazeltree464 > Deceased
    >> Noelle > Half-Brother > Gray-and-white tabby tom with amber eyes > Played by Living-in-Anime > Alive
    >> Juniperberry > Half-Brother > Gray-and-white tabby trans-tom with blue eyes > Played by RubyRose364 > Alive

mate >
    >> N/A

kits >
    >> N/A

extended >
    >> Dovefire > Maternal Grandmother > Gray she-cat with a lighter underside and yellow eyes > Played by Sn0wbranch > Deceased
    >> Swanstar > Maternal Grandfather > Large, fluffy white tom with blue eyes > Played by peeperonipip > Deceased
  >> Blacknettle > Paternal Grandfather > Tuxedo tom with green eyes > NPC > Deceased 
    >> Goosejaw > Paternal Grandfather > Seal point tom with blue eyes > NPC > Deceased

    >> Maskriver > Great Aunt > Dilute tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes > Played by peeperonipip > Deceased

    >> Bliss > Auncle > Cream-and-white bicolor tabby cat with golden eyes > Played by codesii > Alive
    >> Duskwatcher > Aunt > Black she-cat with white undersides, black markings, and orange eyes > Played by Cattnaps > Alive
    >> Creek-kit > Uncle > Tuxedo tom with blue eyes > NPC > Deceased
    >> Yarrowkit > Aunt > Fluffy white she-cat with green eyes > NPC > Deceased
    >> Webkit > Auncle > Small black cat > NPC > Deceased

    >> Goosepaw > Cousin > Black-and-white she-cat with blue eyes > Played by WarriorCatFan53 > Alive
    >> Tundrapaw > Cousin > Gray-and-white ticked tabby tom with yellow eyes > Played by Sn0wbranch > Alive
    >> Chamomile > Cousin > Dilute calico she-cat with blue eyes > Played by drakkeosaur > Alive

kithood [ 0 - 6 moons ] >
    Pigeon was only recently exiled from her birth clan when she found herself getting close with the EmberClan cat, Ganderslash. She escaped to EmberClan, finding refuge there while HailClan fell apart. What she was not expecting was to be a new mother with Ganderslash's kits. She was nervous and terrified, having not planned to get pregnant so soon after her first litter, but still she prepared her nest in EmberClan's camp, readying herself for her new bundles of joy.
    Heronkit was the last born of the litter, following their older sister, Cardinalkit, and their two brothers, Dovekit and Goosekit. Heronkit was the quiet but engaged kit, acting much like an elder sibling despite their status as the youngest. They took special care in their littermates, rushing to their sides when they played too hard or being their company when they were alone. They also remained close with their parents, enjoying casual conversation with Ganderslash and Pigeon. From an early age, they seemed to understand that something was wrong based on Pigeon's expressions, though they did not question it. They assumed their mother knew best and that what she didn't say was for their own good.
    The nursery was extremely lively from the moment they were born, as well. After Pigeon was exiled from HailClan, many of her clanmates followed her to EmberClan to take refuge. Among them was a single father with his own kits. In addition to this, there was the EmberClan leader's kits, as well, and an expecting mother. It made the nursery quite cramped, but it opened up many opportunities to make friends as well. Among the many kits, Heronkit especially found company in Reedstar's son, Hawthornkit. The large tom was quiet and brooding, but Heronkit didn't mind. They eventually even managed to get Hawthornkit to open up to them, if just a bit. Heronkit also found themselves becoming friends with his younger brother, Hickorykit, offering their warmth and friendship to the many cats among them.
    Outside of the nursery, turmoil had been ensuing in the clans. Before Heronkit had been born, EmberClan had taken a rogue in as their prisoner after she came in proclaiming that there were spies out to kill their leader. This rogue was Wild, the former leader of EmberClan. And it wouldn't be long after that she would be found unconscious from an attempted murder, and the cat in which she had previously accused as a spy, Snakeheart, was found dead shortly after. Heronkit didn't know any of these cats, but they could see the sadness in Snakeheart's kit as they dragged his body into camp. It made them snuggle up to their parents and littermates more that night.
    This chaos only continued when Wild later lost a life. Thankfully, she returned with the second life she had received as a leader. Then Sleetpuddle, a warrior of EmberClan, was suddenly demoted to apprenticeship again under the guidance of Irisdawn. Heronkit was curious about this gesture, but they had no time to think about it. Throughout these events, strange cats had been coming and taking refuge in EmberClan. Their mother later told them about HailClan and how this had all started with her. She explained to Heronkit and their littermates about HailClan and how Salmonflight and his kits were from that clan, as were many of the other cats coming from outside. She said that it was once her home, too, making them half-clan. Heronkit had heard that being half-clan wasn't good, and maybe that's why so many cats looked at them and their littermates with scorn. But they gave the gestures a cold shoulder; they were an EmberClan cat with some HailClan blood. They would embrace their identity as such and learn to grow from it.
    Just when they would have thought the moving in of HailClan cats would come to an end, another cat was found on the border and brought back to EmberClan camp. Heronkit could see the apparent shock in their mother's face at the sight of the young tom, and she later addressed him as son. It had Heronkit confused, so Pigeon sat them and their littermates down to explain. The cat was a kittypet by the name of Junior, and he was from her first litter of kittens. Based on what they had heard, Junior was looking to join the clans, and HailClan had offered them a place in their ranks. But that didn't matter to them; they could see the shock and hurt in their littermates eyes when they learned that they had older siblings. Heronkit thought it would be interesting to get to know the older tom, but Cardinalkit and Goosekit disagreed, finding this revelation as a betrayal from their mother. It only got worse when Junior--now Juniperpaw--began to converse with them and told them how Pigeon abandoned him and his littermates. Heronkit didn't quite believe those words, especially when they saw the love and sadness in Pigeon's eyes when she looked at Juniperpaw. But it only made their littermates more upset. So Heronkit took care to comfort his littermates the best he could, providing them the support system they would need in this difficult time.
    Thankfully, things began to find resolution shortly after. The camp had erupted in surprise, and Heronkit heard that Sleetpuddle had been found gravely injured in his nest. When the tom awoke, a clan meeting was held, where Heronkit heard from the nursery walls that a shadow that had been looming over EmberClan, Blizzardfang, had been killed by Sleetpuddle. There seemed to be significant relief in everyone at this news, which made Heronkit smile, even if they didn't know what it meant. EmberClan seemed to be on the mend, and, apparently, as would be HailClan.
    What should have been a beautiful and prideful day for HailClan ended up being quite terrible for Heronkit and their family. Not long after Salmonflight had seemingly disappeared from the camp, Pigeon had approached Dovekit and asked him if he wanted to go on adventures with her. At the time, Heronkit was asleep beside Goosekit, Cardinalkit's sudden yelling. The truth behind her words had been that Pigeon planned to leave the clans, and she was offering Dovekit the ability to go with her. Cardinalkit was enraged at Dovekit being singled out, and, more importantly, what Juniperpaw said would happen seemed to be happening; Pigeon was abandoning them. Of course, Heronkit didn't see it this way. They always knew their mother was unhappy in her state, and the reveal of her clanmate, Rippletide, being one of these spies only put her even further on edge. They couldn't stand the thought of keeping their mother here, only for her to suffer so the others would be happy. But their littermates didn't feel this same resolve, angered by her decisions. She eventually asked if they wanted to join. None of them did; for Heronkit, EmberClan was their home, and for the others, it was not about the adventure. The confrontation, unfortunately, ended quite sourly, with Pigeon and Dovekit taking their leave and the others going back to Ganderslash. Heronkit did all they could to comfort their littermates, though as the reality set in, they could not bring themselves to admit that they, too, felt an ache in their heart.
    That same day, they also said goodbye to their older brother. Salmonflight had returned to gather the HailClan cats and take them to Hope Bridge. Juniperpaw seemed to understand what was happening, and so did Heronkit. HailClan was going home. The sudden loss of so many cats that Heronkit knew and grew up with was strange, and the camp looked quite empty. They especially noticed the hole that Juniperpaw had left in their family--he had really helped them get through some things, especially Goosekit. But Heronkit took a deep breath, overall happy for the HailClan cats to finally find their way home and to see what EmberClan would be like in their future.
    For the remainder of their kithood, Heronkit remained at peace with their life. It was strange, not having their mother or brother there with them, but they filled that void with their friends and remaining family. They took up a form of counseling for their littermates and matured extremely quickly, almost unsettlingly fast. It even surprised Ganderslash. They grew to be a reliable kit around the nursery, making friends with the others and giving them advice. They welcomed the other queens as they expected their kits and made their nests, even if they weren't all too friendly to him, like Peachfur and Hemlockfang were. They also became fascinated by the birth of Peachfur's kits, welcoming them with a warm smile. But they would not be there to help them grow up, for time went by quickly, and suddenly, Heronkit was ready to become an apprentice.

apprenticeship [ 6 - 12 moons ] >
    They had seen a few ceremonies from the nursery entrance in their lifetime, but never did Heronkit imagine how it felt to be the one presented with a new name. They watched with pride as their littermates became Cardinalpaw and Goosepaw respectively, and then it was their turn. Any regular kit would have been excited to stand in front of their leader and receive their apprentice name and mentor. Heronkit didn't think as hard about it, simply living in the moment. They were renamed to Heronpaw, and Reedstar had an older warrior by the name of Thrushbriar step up. This cat would be their mentor. They seemed kind, gentle, if a bit shy and naive. Heronpaw was curious about them, and they looked forward to learning from them.
    Of course, they would have the pleasure to learn alongside some of their friends, too. In addition to Heronpaw and their littermates becoming apprentices, so did Hawthornkit and his littermates. Heronpaw was the first to congratulate his friend on his ceremony, hoping for nothing but the best for him. And of course, they provided the same wishes for Hickorypaw too. It would not be long that them and Hickorypaw would experience one of their first training sessions together from Thrushbriar, and they enjoyed taking their first steps into warriorhood with the small tom.
    It would be around this time that Heronpaw would begin exploring their identity more. It was just before they all became apprentices that Goosepaw had confessed zir own gender crisis, and ze seemed to find what would be just right in zir new identity. Heronpaw, on the other paw, was still on the cusp about their gender. They had been born a female, yet never quite aligned with it. At the time of their kithood, they were simply satisfied with existing. Yet as they began to grow up more, they found themselves taking to masculinity more. They were still quite gentle and maternal, but something about masculine pronouns made them feel just a bit warmer. So they had requested that others begin calling them by masculine pronouns alongside their previous, gender neutral pronouns. It suddenly felt more right with them, and Heronpaw felt a new form of enlightenment in them from this discovery.
   Learning new techniques and skills was a lot of fun. His first ever official session was with his friend Hickorypaw, who joined him and Thrushbriar. Heronpaw was encouraged in seeing Hickorypaw naturally fill in his paws with the techniques, and it convinced him that everything would be fine. Over time, he got to know Thrushbriar better, too. He learned that Thrushbriar was kind, too, but was very shy and passive. He had learned that Thrushbriar's last apprentice left the clan, and he wondered if maybe Thrushbriar had lingering doubts from that as he fumbled over some of their lessons. But he remained hopeful and continued to encourage Thrushbriar through their training sessions. After all, Heronpaw wasn't going anywhere.
   For the first couple of moons of his apprenticeship, life moved quite smoothly. Many more kits became apprentices, and they worked to expand the apprentices' den together to make room for everyone. Heronpaw kept his nest towards the edge than the middle, but still in the back so as to ward off the cold. And he was glad that he did this, because when leafbare hit, it decided to it hard. Suddenly, the lake was frozen and prey seemed nonexistent as the snowstorms kept coming. There were many days that the clan was forced to stay in their camp because of the snow, and when they were able to go out again, there was hardly anything to see beyond the tail-lengths of fresh snow. Cats began to die from the lack of prey as it grew more scarce and rationing became difficult. It especially didn't help with an ever-growing clan like EmberClan, whose nursery was still filled to the brim with kits despite how many had become apprentices in the past couple moons. Heronpaw had to just tell himself that it was leafbare; it was his first time experiencing it, and they would get through it. The clans have done it before, and they'll do it again.
   But the clans are not the only creatures in the forest that suffered from the lack of prey. Likewise, predators went through just as many problems as they did, and they in turn began to act out more, much to the horror of EmberClan. One day, Hickorypaw and his littermate, Heatherpaw, had returned to camp from an outing with their father. Only, Tigerfrost wasn't with them and Hickorypaw was injured. Alarmed, Heronpaw was quick to go and help their friend to the medicine den alongside Heatherpaw while others rushed out to look for Tigerfrost. When they returned, they brought with them his lifeless body. He had died protecting his kits from a hungry fox. Heronpaw watched in horror as Tigerfrost was laid in the middle of camp for vigil, but they couldn't bring themselves to go over. Rather, they joined Hickorypaw and Heatherpaw in the medicine den, where they tried their best to comfort their friend in their terrible moment. They couldn't imagine losing Ganderslash, and they wished their friend would never have had to gone through it. Heronpaw wondered at that moment how Hawthornpaw would take it, knowing his best friend's respect for his father. They would need to find Hawthornpaw later and comfort him, if he would allow them. For now, however, Hickorypaw needed them.
   Their training resumed, although it was with a heavy feeling looming over them and their denmates. Tigerfrost was gone, and their friends never quite seemed the same. And their situation only continued to get worse as everyone around them continued to lose weight from the lack of prey. They hadn't even noticed that they lost weight, too. They tried not to think about it. Rather, they kept up with their training, asking to join in with their littermates or Reedstar's kits' training as much as possible. At times, Heronpaw would join the others, too, encouraging everyone as best they can despite their circumstances. It was exhausting, admittedly, keeping up with their bright and positive nature, but seeing everyone get along and smile was worth it. When he wasn't training or doing apprentice duties, Heronpaw often found himself going to the nursery to play with the kits or he'd go and care for the elders, even if they didn't need it. It made Drizzlesong's passing all the sadder for him, knowing her nest would be empty from then on. He vowed to himself that he would help their clan's situation the best he could, even if that didn't mean much at the time.
   His mind was temporarily taken off the idea of the horrors that EmberClan was facing after one patrol. He had gone out with his sister, Cardinalpaw, alongside his mentor, her mentor, and some other cats. Heatherpaw, Fennelpaw, and another, younger apprentice, Timberpaw, were there, too. The patrol was running quite smoothly, thankfully, despite the troubles with predators that they had been dealing with. Even the sky was decently clear at the time. But that didn't mean peace--of course it didn't. The patrol had suddenly taken a turn for the worst when Cardinalpaw caught sight of two rogues crossing the border. The rogues were none other than their mother Pigeon and their brother Dovekit. Heronpaw was astonished; they were forbidden from coming back to EmberClan by Reedstar's orders. They had been chased off multiple times already. What in StarClan's name was his mother thinking in coming back? She announced that they had come to visit, and Dovekit even had gifts for them. However, Cardinalpaw, along with the rest of the patrol, were quick to deny her and tell her to leave. Heronpaw remained silent for a bit, his heart aching at the confrontation. Eventually, he, too, begun trying to coax his mother and brother to leave, less for the clan and more for their sake. It would only end badly if they stayed. But Pigeon was stubborn, and she tried to push through. And Cricketstorm gave Cardinalpaw the cue to attack. Heronpaw knew his sister was angry, but it was still a shock to see it in reality. Thrushbriar tried to protect him from the scene, but he tried to remind his mentor he wasn't a kit. As he was trying to do that, he heard Heatherpaw speaking to Dovekit as they approached him, ready to attack him. His heart sped up in a panic; Dovekit was innocent! He just followed his mother blindly. How were they to know he was even trained? He practically begged for Heatherpaw to leave him alone, and he was thankful that Badgertooth and Cricketstorm joined in on it. Eventually, the message was sent to Pigeon as Cardinalpaw separated herself from their mother. Her state--the blood and the messed up fur--had Heronpaw worried. He had never seen his mother look so broken. He had fallen into a brief moment of melancholy at the sight when he heard his name called and promptly snapped out of it. He turned to look at Cardinalpaw, who had spoken his name, before back to Pigeon and Dovekit, where his brother was laying down the gifts he had brought. Heronpaw realized it was about these, and though Cardinalpaw did not agree with taking them... they were a gift from their brother. Heronpaw couldn't hold it over Dovekit's head that their mother was a mess. He was grateful to accept some of his gifts, including a heron feather that he likely found just for him, some dried thyme, and flowers he didn't quite recognize, but pretty nonetheless. Then, he watched his mother and brother leave solemnly before turning to return to camp himself, his tail just a mouse-length away from dragging in the snow.
    Back at camp, the young cat was quick to return to their nest, still shaken by what had happened. It took many breaths and counting to calm down, but even as they did, they couldn't find themselves to focus much more. They turned to look down at the gifts they had, and they began to arrange them and weave them together. As they were doing this, Cardinalpaw had entered the den and approached them. Heronpaw hadn't heard her until she approached him, asking if he was okay. He lied, saying he was fine and that he understood that what she did was for the clan. Still... even if their mother deserved it, Dovekit didn't. Cardinalpaw, unfortunately, didn't agree. They couldn't find themselves the energy to argue, though. Cardinalpaw was right; they were rogues that needed to be driven away. But the fear in their brother's eyes still haunted them, and they found they couldn't agree or disagree with their sister. Instead, they shook it off, telling their sister it was okay and that they weren't angry at her. How could they be? They loved their sister, just as much as they loved Goosepaw and Dovekit and Ganderslash. Pigeon? ... Well, she was their mother. Of course they loved her. But they needed to remind themselves that her and Dovekit weren't their clanmates. Still, Heronpaw would carry them in their heart, albeit quietly. They had just finished weaving together the gifts from Dovekit just as they were ready to end this awkward, painful conversation with their sister. With a concentrated, careful paw, they tucked the bundle of gifts into their chest fur. Then, they turned to Cardinalpaw with a smile and a gentle reminder about their love for her, and then they promptly left the den to return to their duties, masking their pain and heartache.
   Things never quite seemed to go back to normal after that. Cardinalpaw had begun to spend more time with Heatherpaw, and though Heronpaw continued to try to keep her and Goosepaw and him close, he found it... difficult. He felt sometimes that his efforts were in vain despite how hard he tried. In addition to this, his relationship with Thrushbriar had changed, too. He still respected his mentor and listened to him, but... he was reminded of the way he was treated on that patrol. He wasn't a kit anymore, and he didn't need to be cared for like one. Not only that, but he didn't need another parent, not when he had two already. He reminded Thrushbriar multiple times that it was okay and that they were still close as mentor and apprentice, but still, Thrushbriar seemed more careful around him. It made training... less enjoyable. But he still put up a smile and pushed through. His clan needed him, and he couldn't afford to shirk his duties despite his feelings.
   Unfortunately, things only got worse. More cats began to die from starvation, including Hawthornpaw's mentor, Froststream. He ended up being reassigned to Grizzlygrowl, who seemed to match his personality a bit more. Still, Heronpaw knew how much his friend respected Froststream, and he missed the deaf she-cat just as much at their training sessions. He wanted to be there for Hawthornpaw as much as possible, but his friend was not the only one experiencing loss.
   Hyacinthpaw, an apprentice just a moon younger than Heronpaw, had fallen through the ice less than a moon before Froststream's passing. Unfortunately, she never came back up. Perhaps it was because of the lack of swimming lessons that their generation was given due to the ice, or because the cold got to her first. Her death created more melancholy in the apprentices' den as her littermates grieved terribly for her, Fennelpaw especially--Heronpaw noticed it in their earlier patrol. He felt terrible for them. He offered them his sympathy and comfort, but he wasn't sure how well it was received. He couldn't imagine the thought of losing a littermate, especially having one so far away from him in the form of Dovekit. But... he would soon know what that feeling would be like.
   It started like any other day. Heronpaw had been on patrol that morning, and upon returning to the camp, they noticed that their littermate, Goosepaw, was going out with zir mentor Stonewhisper and Irisdawn. Ze had mentioned to Heronpaw before leaving that they were going to try hunting, and Heronpaw wished them all good luck. They hadn't thought about it for awhile as they fell into their apprentice duties, from changing out bedding to helping repair some dens. Time seemed to stretch on, though, and soon enough, another border patrol had set out. When they returned, Heronpaw's blood had run cold at what they brought back. They carried with them three bodies, two warriors and an apprentice. Stonewhisper, Irisdawn, and... Goosepaw. They were all covered in blood and motionless. Heronpaw was quick to rush over to their littermate as they were set down. They heard small pieces of what the patrol reported; something about coyotes. By the time they had gotten there, Goosepaw was already gone, and Irisdawn and Stonewhisper had died in the battle. But by then, Heronpaw's mind had gone blank staring down at their deceased littermate. Why...? Goosepaw didn't deserve this. Ze were so energetic and happy, despite all that their family had been through. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair. Heronpaw didn't leave Goosepaw's side until they took zim for zir burial. For once, they couldn't bring themselves to smile through it.
   Things were feel more bleak without Goosepaw around. Heronpaw, seeing how happy Cardinalpaw was around Heatherpaw, began to leave her alone more. Perhaps no one noticed, but they began to keep a bit more to themselves, and if asked if they were alright, they'd smile and say yes. The only cat they seemed to remain close with was Hawthornpaw, relying on him as a shoulder to lean on whenever he needed it. As the weather began to get warmer and the snow and ice began to disappear, they reminded themselves that good things were waiting for them. They looked towards their assessment with confidence despite their wavering heart, and soon enough, they had passed it and were on their way to becoming a warrior.

warriorhood [ 12 moons - present ] >
   Their warrior ceremony felt similar to their apprenticeship ceremony as they watched their sister and friends proudly gain their warriors names. Cardinalpaw was named Cardinalsnap, Hawthornpaw was named Hawthornbark, and Hickorypaw was named Hickoryroot. As for themselves, they were named Heronbriar, a respectful nod to their mentor and their kind personality. yet as their clanmates cheered their name, Heronbriar wasn't sure if it fit. Or perhaps because something felt like it was missing. Goosepaw was missing. And... so was Dovekit. But they gratefully accepted their name and thanked everyone for their congratulations, feigning happiness as they smiled at everyone.
   The ice and snow continued to melt and the warm weather became more consistent. The prey began to return with the better weather, too, and soon, the clan was looking better as they filled out again. And they could finally swim again. Heronbriar, despite having no lessons in swimming, found he was quite the natural at it. He loved the feeling of gliding through the water and catching fish as they returned. He tried to coax his sister to try swimming again after so many moons of her not doing so, but she still refused. He didn't push it. Instead, he enjoyed it for himself, giving himself that rare opportunity to be selfish in his love for swimming.
   Things were looking up again. The nursery, though still steadily full, was still a place of comfort for Heronbriar as he met new kits and congratulated the new apprentices that he watched grow up. He was surprised to hear about Apricotpaw's accident, and as she was confined to the medicine den, he sympathized with her situation. It reminded him of Hickoryroot's time in the medicine den after Tigerfrost's death. He hoped that Apricotpaw would get better soon and return to herself again. It felt weird seeing her confined there.
    A moon after his warrior ceremony, more of his previous denmates became warriors, including Cricketstorm's kits, Bullfrogbite and Brookflight, and Briarpaw's littermates, Bramblebite and Widowmist. He welcomed them all as they created their nests in the warriors' den. But just because they all became warriors did not mean the apprentices' den was empty. In addition to Peachfur's kits becoming apprentices a moon ago, Stormfire's kits became apprentices, too, as well as a few other apprentices. EmberClan never seemed to be without their young cats, and seeing them all thrive with the return of prey filled Heronbriar with warmth again--a feeling he hadn't felt in a few moons.
    Of course, good things must be balanced with the bad. One of the older warriors died of greencough, and then Lightningheart was suddenly killed by some terrible, huge fish. The fish had apparently targeted one of the kits, Dacekit, but Lightningheart saved the young tom-kit, losing his own life in turn. Heronbriar was stunned by the sacrifice. Lightningheart was never quite the nicest of cats, but Heronbriar had still greatly respected the old tom in his moons as an apprentice. To know he has died with one final deed of warriorhood prompted Heronbriar to respect the late tom all the more. He hoped Lightningheart would continue to watch over their clan from StarClan, and he prayed that Lightningheart had finally found peace.
    It was shortly after Lotusbreeze received his next apprentice did he decide to step down from being deputy. It surprised Heronbriar; he always thought that Lotusbreeze would make a wonderful leader in the future, and more importantly, a peaceful leader. But Heronbriar respected the older tom's decision; he would still be a warrior and pass on his skills and values to his new apprentice, Monarchpaw, for the future generation. Of course, this made the clan feel a bit more competitive among the older warriors as Reedstar had to begin considering the next deputy. Heronbriar was far too young to be a deputy, not to mention he lacked the experience. He was glad to be exempt from the competition for the position, though he prayed that another peaceful deputy like Lotusbreeze would be picked. In the mean time, though, Heronbriar found himself sticking to himself and his close friends to avoid the tension and competitiveness, remaining a bystander in it all.
   Things continued to happen, both good and bad. The good news was that Apricotpaw recovered from her injuries and returned to her duties. Though Heronbriar was never close with her, he was glad to see her back out and training--it suited her better than sitting around in the medicine den. The bad news was Cinderwhisper's sudden death. She died from an infection, and her kits were suddenly left without a mother. Their other parent, Addersong, was quick to move into the nursery to care for them, but it didn't change the fact that Cinderwhisper was gone. It wasn't too long after the attack of the large fish on Dacekit, and now the poor tom-kit had to face the loss of his mother. Heronbriar felt terrible for the young kits; it reminded him painfully of his own kithood, only he had the joy of his mother still being very much alive and well. Well, as well as any cat whose kits have rejected. Not being close with the family, Heronbriar didn't try to push himself directly on the grieving family, but he ensured them that he was there for them if any of them, widow or kits alike, needed someone to talk to or a shoulder to lean on.